Swindon & Cricklade Diesel Gala Weekend - 22nd March 2015
The weekend of the 21st and 22nd March saw the Swindon & Cricklade Railway hold a home fleet diesel gala using their ecliptic mix of Diesel Locomotives currently on the line. The preserved line is only 2.75 miles long, but hosts a wide variety of locomotives and stock, and a plucky band of volunteers who try to keep everything running. There are also plans with expansion to build an end station (close to Taw Valley Halt) next to the Swindon - Gloucester mainline which will undoubtedly bring in much needed revenue to the line. The line may also be helped by the relentless house building which is being carried out in the Swindon area, which thousands of new homes now closing in around the line.
Locomotives operating at the event included:
Class 03 03152, Class 08 D3861, Class 09 D3668, Class 73 73003 'Sir Herbert Walker', Class 207 207203, 0-4-0 4220021 'Blundsen', 0-4-0 21422 'Woodbine'.
Locomotives operating at the event included:
Class 03 03152, Class 08 D3861, Class 09 D3668, Class 73 73003 'Sir Herbert Walker', Class 207 207203, 0-4-0 4220021 'Blundsen', 0-4-0 21422 'Woodbine'.
Class 207 'Thumper' No.207203 stands at Blunsden Station alongside Fowler 0-4-0 NO.422031 'Blunsden'.
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0-4-0 Fowler No.4220031 'Blunsden' stands at Hayes Knoll having arrived on the back of the early morning break van trip from Blunsden.
Class 03 No.03152 stands at Hayes Knoll Depot having shunted the break van trip into the yard.
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Class 207 'Thumper' No.207203 arrives into Hayes Knoll with an 'additional extra' to collect passengers from Hayes Knoll who ventured up on a break van trip.
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BR Blue Class 09 No.D3668(09004) passes Blunsden Station operating a Hayes Knoll - Taw Valley passenger service.
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BR Green Class 08 No.D3261 stands at Hayes Knoll. The locomotive was withdrawn from traffic so early in its British Rail career that it never obtained at BR TOPS number.
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BR Green Class 08 No.D3261 stands at Hayes Knoll. The locomotive was withdrawn from traffic so early in its British Rail career that it never obtained at BR TOPS number.
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BR Class 03 No.03152 stands at Hayes Knoll waiting to form the next service to Taw Valley Halt.
Class 207 'Thumper' No.207203 passes through Blunsden with a service train to Taw Valley Halt from Hayes Knoll.
Class 207 'Thumper' No.207203 passes through Blunsden with a service train to Taw Valley Halt from Hayes Knoll.
Class 207 'Thumper' No.207203 passes through Blunsden returning to Hayes Knoll from Taw Valley Halt.
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Class 207 'Thumper' No.207203 passes through Blunsden returning to Hayes Knoll from Taw Valley Halt.
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Having spent most of the day sidelined with flat batteries, Class 73 No.73003 finally made a trip to Taw Valley Halt on the last service train of the day. The locomotive is pictured passing the Class 207 at Blunsden.
Class 73 No.73003 'Sir Herbert Walker' arrives back into Blunsden from Taw Valley Halt on the last service train of the day.
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Class 73 No.73003 'Sir Herbert Walker' shunts stock at Hayes Knoll.
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